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Living With The Lions Sports Travel

Another of England’s World Cup winning stars, Josh Lewsey, has announced that he will retire from the game of rugby at the end of the season. Josh has played fifty-five times for England in the last decade, and quit international rugby in 2008.

Lewsey has also played 259 for his club side Wasps. Despite announcing his retirement from the game, Lewsey would still like to play a part in the British and Irish Lions rugby tour to South Africa later this year. Lewsey stated:

I have never taken part in a winning Lions Test series. I would dearly love to go.

Lewsey’s director of football at Wasps, Ian McGeechan, gave a glowing tribute to his star after their win against Newcastle this weekend:

There aren’t many English backs who will go home with the silverware he’s collected, with World Cups, 10 trophies with Wasps and a Lions tour.

He’s been hugely significant in English rugby and the same at the club.

In his England rugby career Lewsey has scored twenty-two tries, plus he has also played for the Lions in his ten year career.

Lewsey explained how he could have played on, but had to think of his future outside of the game of rugby union.

I am 32 and I suppose I could have gone on for a few more years.

But Vanessa (his wife) is finishing her doctorate, you have to think about real life and responsibility, the possibility of a family.

In what has been a season to forget so far for England, Martin Johnson’s men salvaged some pride with a demolition of fancied France. The first half of the game was all England, as they ran in four tries to lead 29-0 by half time. The French, always unpredictable, had no answer to an England side that managed to marry passion and aggression, with control and temperament. This is something England have struggled to do so far this campaign.

However the victory against France was a magnificent one for the English, and even threatened to set a new record for a win against France, had it not been for a mini French revival in the second half.

It didn’t start too well for the French after the break, as England ran in another try straight away, but the visitors soon got to grips with the game, scoring their first points with tries from Dimitri Szarzewski and Julien.

In truth, the flurry from the French was more to do England relaxing than France finding any form. It could have been much worse for the French, who can consider themselves lucky to escape with just a 34-10 defeat.

Incredibly England are now the top try scorers for this 2009 tournament, going over thirteen times.

English rugby slipped to its all-time lowest ebb this week after the humiliating defeat to Ireland on Saturday. The days of the Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003 seem like a distant memory to a side that failed to trouble a brilliant Ireland, and could only kick away possession at every opportunity. England have now dropped to their lowest ever ranking in international rugby, eight, behind home nations rivals Wales and Ireland, and France, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

England were ranked sixth at the start of the year, but now sit just one place above Scotland, who scored a victory over Italy at the weekend.

England sat on top of the World rankings after their success in 2003, but as the old guard retired from the game, England’s fortunes have change drastically.

Matters could get much worse for Martin Johnson’s men if they were to succumb to France and Scotland in the remaining two games of the Six Nations, as defeat would see them drop to ninth place in the rankings. It at least ensures that England have something to play for in the remaining two fixtures, as they cannot now lift the Six Nations trophy, or the Triple Crown.

The latest in international Rugby news about England’s tour of Argentina which is to take place next year in June has seen a slight change in the venue. The two Rugby tests that were scheduled to be played in Argentina will now see the first test being played in England. This is in response to a request for financial assistance that the Pumas put forth to the British and Irish Lions.

All those English Rugby fans who were hoping to support their team in another country will probably be quite disappointed. It seems the Pumas are in dire need of funds and they feel that the first test being played in England will provide them with those funds. The second test is sure to be played away from home, so fans will still have an opportunity to witness this Rugby tour in Argentina.

International Rugby tours are what many Rugby fans look forward to as they have a chance to visit another country and watch their favourite team play there. Although the change in venue will shatter the hopes of a wonderful holiday break for many, there will still be an opportunity to watch the Lions in action at home and in Argentina.

James Simpson-Daniel has no choice but to take a break due to his ankle injury. The 26 year old will have to go in for surgery after sustaining damage to his ankle ligaments. This also means that he is out of England’s Autumn tests, as the whole process will take about three months. Even his team mate Luke Narraway will probably be sidelined for England’s first game against the Pacific Islands due to a hamstring injury. Both the players were injured playing with Gloucester during the match against Cardiff in the Heineken Cup.

Simpson-Daniel is quite a talented player and even won the Guinness Premiership player of the season last year, so this is quite a setback for him, especially since he was in great form this season. His numerous injuries and illnesses have also restricted him in the past, as he has been restricted to just 10 England caps. Simpson-Daniel’s replacement for further rugby tours will be announced by team manager Martin Johnson by Friday.

Gloucester has had it quite rough recently. Not only did they lose out on a chance to win the Heineken cup, but also suffered losses to their backline, again, due to various injuries. Simpson Daniel’s injury could not have happened at a worse time for them.